So Long, Thanks For All The Help

[tgl]

Did think of one more question for the evening; are there any issues plugging the AP's into a switch that is plugged into the Cloud Gateway Max. It would be unmanaged netgear switch.

You can definitely use non-UniFi switches -- I do -- but unmanaged switches won't reliably carry VLANs, which means you can't make a VLAN-isolated guest SSID or IoT-only SSID. So you might wanna upgrade that switch later, but it's not something you have to have on day one.

 

[tgl]

In case anybody is curious, some info about my own UniFi setup:

I decided to buy into UniFi just about a year ago, after downsizing from a house into a condo in a high-rise and realizing that the wifi gear I had was unsuited for the new environment. The 2.4GHz band is just about saturated here, and the 5GHz band is getting bad. I figured I needed to move my high-performance clients into 6GHz, which would have less competition for years yet, and also only very close neighbors could interfere at all. I'd been using Zyxel APs, but they didn't do 6GHz and Zyxel wasn't offering any attractive 6E solutions yet. I sprung for UniFi U6 Enterprise APs, which are pricy and really overkill for the number of wifi clients I have, but they were all that UniFi had at the time in 6E gear. I haven't regretted it --- they are solid, well-performing APs. I have three of 'em; I initially tried to cover my space with two, but had a dead spot in the middle and not a lot of flexibility to reposition the initial two. But with three I can run them at fairly low Tx power which is how this gear is meant to be used. I get very smooth roaming between them. All are wired, though I had to settle for a MoCA not ethernet link to one.

I've recently finished replacing all our high-performance clients (phones and laptops) with 6E-capable gear. I don't foresee replacing these devices for several years, by which time I'll probably want wifi 7 APs and clients -- and they'll be way cheaper and less temperamental than today. But for now, I'm happy as can be. I still can't see anyone else's 6GHz SSID in my scanner app, so I'm ahead of my nearest neighbors at least. All my low-performance clients behave well too, though I don't have a lot of junky IoT-grade gear that might cause trouble.

I'm using a cloud key for controller, because at the time the DIY-hosted app had a really bad reputation for dependency problems (it's apparently gotten better since then) and I figured I'd rather spend a few more bucks than tear my hair over sysadmin hoop-jumping. I do not have any other UniFi gear: I'm happy with my pfSense router and Cisco-and-Zyxel switches.

 

[Tech9]

The u6 mesh's seem to last about 3 years and self destruct.

How come they self destruct in 3 years when the product was first available in Q1 2022? I have total of 6x U6 Mesh APs now and they run >50C. As per Ubiquiti normal for IPX5 device with no air vents. I have no concerns. In 3 years I’ll have something else most likely anyway.

 

[Tech9]

@Tech9 how long have you had your u6 mesh

Both new systems with 2024 equipment, first installed in mid September, second in mid October. U6 Pro APs run cooler, the same hardware and specs, need PoE injector, not included.

 

[Justinh]

You want Cloud Gateway Ultra or Max. They have Gateway, Controller and Switch 3-in-1. You only need to add Access Point.

Your RT-AX86U in Ubiquiti gear:
- Cloud Gateway Ultra - $129
- U6 Mesh with PoE injector included - $179

Thanks for boiling this down! The product matrix and eco system is super-confusing to me. And it sounds like the store/website is not helpful in figuring it out.

 

[GHammer]

As you both said (@tgl & @Tech9 ), the U7's do look like there are a lot of issues which seems to be the cheap 2.4 iot devices and their chipsets. Regardless though, the same cheap devices work fine on the older U devices so something seems amiss with the U7 line.

Everyone has their opinion.
For me, I have a number of cheap IoT devices. All came up and have stayed up with zero changes to the default WiFi settings.
My phones roam quickly and properly.
I have no idea what the commenters are on about as I don't base purchases on other's 'informed' opinions. I do look to see if something is garbage, but past that, eh?

BTW- One of my U7 Wall units is in a small cabinet in a family room along with the PoE adapter. I don't know where to look for temps yet, but by feel and by opening the door to the cabinet, nothing unusual.

A clip of the dashboard

 

[GHammer]

This is from the wall stand itself.

 

[heysoundude]

MikroTik is more popular in Europe.

For now, but they are definitely making inroads. There are multiple dealers in the GTA. I believe one of my friends is currently in Latvia either leading or upgrading his training with them, and he already holds Cisco certs. The pricing is certainly very competitive. There's no wifi7 stuff yet, or even 6e iirc, but if you want 2.5G and faster PoE switching with SFP, it's probably a very good place to start.

 

[Tech9]

The product matrix and eco system is super-confusing to me.

Follow the 4 components rule and it gets clearer - Gateway, Controller, Switch, Access Point. When you see a Gateway with multiple Ethernet ports - it obviously has a Switch as well. When you see a Gateway and "Managed with..." in specs - it obviously needs a Controller or CloudKey. When you see a Cloud Gateway and "Manages..." in specs - it has built-in Controller. The products are split in categories because some folks want to upgrade one component only and have the rest already. I purchased 3-in-1 device with Gateway, Controller and Switch because I was starting from scratch. If I had running UniFi already and needed a new Gateway only - it's available. Look at the price as well - we obviously don't need enterprise gear in thousand of dollars a piece.

For now, but they are definitely making inroads.

Quality equipment, no question about it. MikroTik routers are way more configurable than UniFi, but require way more networking knowledge as well and the UI is kind of Windows 3.0 style. Less integration between devices, even further expanded control per device. It's like a Manual car and there is a lot to like there. What we have with Ubiquiti UniFi is Automatic car with Apple Play, eventually full-time AWD.

 

[Tech9]

Cloud Gateway Max is sold out in all configs

You have to be quick if you want one because it's a hot item for home network builders. Ubiquiti never had 3-in-1 device for $200 before.

 

[Tech9]

Share the experience once you build your system.

By the way... hit the Update button. The system didn't reboot, the network was unavailable for about 1min.

 

[tgl]

Back in stock and order placed.

Yeah, Ubiquiti is notorious for keeping minimal inventory on-hand. It's common for new stock to come in and sell out within minutes, if it's a popular item.

 

[tgl]

BTW- One of my U7 Wall units is in a small cabinet in a family room along with the PoE adapter. I don't know where to look for temps yet, but by feel and by opening the door to the cabinet, nothing unusual.

UniFi doesn't seem to expose device temperatures anywhere in the web GUI, which is odd.
However, you can get a bunch of info by ssh'ing into the devices. They seem to be running some not too bizarre variant of Linux/OpenWRT. On my U6-Ent APs, running
cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone*/temp
produces several numbers typically in the low 60s, which I suppose are internal sensors reading out in degrees C.

 

[Tech9]

UniFi doesn't seem to expose device temperatures anywhere in the web GUI

The gateway has temperature in OS Settings, About menu.

 

[Poseidon]

I have no network experience and I’ve always been intimidated by the Ubiquiti setup. Currently I have an Asus GT98 Pro router. What would be equivalent to that in Ubiquiti products if I were to build own? I live in a 2-bedroom condo. Thanks

 

[microchip]

I have no network experience and I’ve always been intimidated by the Ubiquiti setup. Currently I have an Asus GT98 Pro router. What would be equivalent to that in Ubiquiti products if I were to build own? I live in a 2-bedroom condo. Thanks

The same stuff that @Tech9 has

 

[Tech9]

The equipment @GHammer has, actually. Mine is Gigabit with Wi-Fi 6 APs. For a condo single AP may be good enough.

 

[Tech9]

Some Band Steering testing and the results for whoever is interested.

There are two options available for Band Steering in GUI. One is in System Settings, WiFi:

The other is in UniFi Devices, select the AP you want to make changes to, go to Settings:

So far it works best as shown above, Enabled in WiFi (system global setting) and Disabled on the APs (per device setting). It follows the global logic to steer the devices to 5GHz band when possible and when the signal level allows. All my 5GHz capable devices stay on 5GHz band.

 

[Tech9]

How to fine tune?

Adjust the power on 2.4GHz band and 5GHz band, make 2.4GHz band power 3-4dBm lower.
To have 1dBm adjustment option go to System Settings, Advanced and select Professional Installer:

Then in individual APs settings you'll see Custom with this:

Different APs may have different power settings as needed for the area they cover.

If not enough - adjust the minimal data rates in System Settings, WiFi, select the network it applies to:

Increase the 2.4GHz minimal data rates, but gentle with this one because it may break connectivity.

 

[Tech9]

No demo UI online. Your live simulator is coming soon as I understand.